Guest guest Posted August 13, 2006 Report Share Posted August 13, 2006 Hi Carol V., I did a quick google search and found this link that says at least one kind of artificial disc has been approved in the U.S. http://www.spine-health.com/research/discupdate/discupdate01.html I remember someone posting that artificial discs are being used in Europe, in some cases, even under long pre-existing fusions like many of us have. loriann > > Someone asked me at work after I came back from seeing Dr.Hu when I was > explaining what the surgery entailed if she would be replacing discs. I > didn't say anything to him, but I was of the understanding that disc > replacement is still considered an experimental and or in the research > stages here in the US because the FDA hasn't approved it yet. Does > anyone know if this is correct? I think they're doing the replacements > in Europe. > > Carol V (CA) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2006 Report Share Posted August 13, 2006 Thanks for the info., but Racine said that she had asked Dr. Hu the same question about using artificial discs in revision surgery, and Dr. Hu said that the " gel " like discs that they are currently using cannot stand up to the forces of a previously (long) fused spines that us scoliosis patients have. There is a metal one (maybe this Charite?) that might work, but said there had been some member of the forum that had one put in as part of her revision surgery several years ago and did not have good results at all. She seemed to think that she doesn't post any more, either. Sounds like something that I will avoid just to be safe. Carol V. (CA) > > > > Someone asked me at work after I came back from seeing Dr.Hu when I was > > explaining what the surgery entailed if she would be replacing discs. I > > didn't say anything to him, but I was of the understanding that disc > > replacement is still considered an experimental and or in the research > > stages here in the US because the FDA hasn't approved it yet. Does > > anyone know if this is correct? I think they're doing the replacements > > in Europe. > > > > Carol V (CA) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2006 Report Share Posted August 13, 2006 Hi again Carol V., I just remembered that I had one European site bookmarked that discusses ADR: http://www.getadr.com/ I only read the first page, but from it I gather the Charite disk is plastic and they feel not suitable for use under existing long fusions. loriann > > Thanks for the info., but Racine said that she had asked Dr. Hu > the same question about using artificial discs in revision surgery, > and Dr. Hu said that the " gel " like discs that they are currently > using cannot stand up to the forces of a previously (long) fused > spines that us scoliosis patients have. There is a metal one (maybe > this Charite?) that might work, but said there had been some > member of the forum that had one put in as part of her revision > surgery several years ago and did not have good results at all. She > seemed to think that she doesn't post any more, either. Sounds like > something that I will avoid just to be safe. > > Carol V. (CA) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 I recently spoke with a woman, whose husband has a 2 level disc replacement after a prior short fusion (i or 2 levels) in Germany this year. She reported that he was a new person after the surgery and they were both thrilled with the results. While this proceedure is more aggressive than what I believe they are doing in the US, her husband did not have a prior long fusion. I haven't follwed up on it yet to see if they do it with long fusions, but do have the contact info for his doctor. Its Dr. Bertagnoli at www.pro-spine.com > > > > Someone asked me at work after I came back from seeing Dr.Hu when I was > > explaining what the surgery entailed if she would be replacing discs. I > > didn't say anything to him, but I was of the understanding that disc > > replacement is still considered an experimental and or in the research > > stages here in the US because the FDA hasn't approved it yet. Does > > anyone know if this is correct? I think they're doing the replacements > > in Europe. > > > > Carol V (CA) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 28, 2008 Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 The following is the website for Pro Disc which is made by the company Synthes, a leader in orthopedics and joint replacements. You may be able to find a surgeon through the company. http://us.synthesprodisc.com/EN-US/DiscReplacement/ Also, this is a doc in North Carolina who does them, he has a nice info page on it... http://www.discreplacementservices.com/prodisc_tooke.htm And another on disk replacement http://www.centerforspinecare.com/approach/minimalinvasive/lowerback/rea lities.html There is another brand in the US for disk prosthesis which is called Charite, but the Pro Disc is thought to be superior by some http://www.charitedisc.com/charitedev/domestic/ The place in Germany is called Stenum Hospital, below is the link... http://www.stenumhospital.com/ --- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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